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CS Honors Program

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Computer Science (CS) Honors Program

Departmental honors in Computer Science is granted to students who have maintained a cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 3.5 and completed a set of coherent courses and research activities that satisfy the following requirements.

The program consists of at least 9 credits beyond the minimum required for graduation, as follows:

at least one CS course (at least 3 credit hours) at or above the 5000 level with a grade of A– or better; no seminars. Note: CS 5000-level courses that co-meet with a CS 4000-level course are not eligible for honors.

at least two 3-credit semesters of CS 4999 (Independent Reading and Research) with a CS faculty member, with grades of A– or better each semester.

Latin Designations (appended to the degree), awarded by the field of Computer Science for all who qualify as stated above, are based on the final cumulative GPA, as follows:

cum laude, 3.50 or above

magna cum laude, 3.75 or above

summa cum laude, 4.00 or above

Restrictions
Honors courses may not be used to satisfy the CS 4000+ level electives, the CS project requirement, the technical electives, course in the External Specialization, Major-approved elective, Advisor-approved elective (for Engineering students) or Free Electives (for Arts & Sciences students), or a student’s first vector. In essence, honors coursework represents a depth of work that is well beyond the minimum requirements needed to fulfill the Major.

Timing
Candidates are required to send email to ugrad@cs.cornell.edu with the subject line “HONORS CANDIDATE”. The deadline for receipt of messages requesting honors is October 15 for May and August candidates and March 15 for January candidates, during or prior to senior year.